simmo41’s foolproof plan to fix “”“congestion”"" that can be implemented before the weekend

Actually pay incorrect disposal. Once the tackler’s arms are locked on, anything other than a handball or kick is a free. “Knocked out in the tackle” is a load of sht and is just trying to keep the game moving.

Make the decision to ball up about 2 seconds quicker than it currently gets done.

DON’T FK AROUND WITH THE BALL UP. Get ball, throw it up, done. Same deal with boundary throw ins - have the boundary umps carry a spare ball with them. If they are done quickly, players will stop seeing them as a viable opportunity to stop the game to rest/reset and will lessen their efforts to make them happen.

Ball needs to be immediately given to the ump when a free kick is paid, and then they give it to the player who gets the free (similar to basketball). This stops the dumb charade of “excuse me umpire who do I return the ball to?” that holds up play.

Just pay the free kicks as they are meant to be paid. Exactly as Clarkson has actually said.

This is the main point. Umpires have a mandate to “keep the game moving”. Unfortunately they have read that as “give the players every possible chance to move the ball along.” It should be read as “the ball should be stationary for as little time as possible, please see to it that this happens.”

If the AFL were to want permanent Thurs or Mon fixtures (which they don’t as per Gil on SEN today), then there needs to be a 10th game each week to accommodate it (ergo a 19th and 20th team). It shouldn’t come at the sacrifice of a Saturday or Sunday timeslot.

I do agree with this kind of philosophy.
Starting points after goals, behinds and boundary throw ins is the only thing that will eradicate congestion in my view. Once the ball is ‘live’ and in play, players can run anywhere. There is 15 seconds of empty time after a boundary throw in, about 45 after a goal and i would say about 10 after a behind, its not difficult for players to spread the field during these times.

High performance specialist Darren Burgess says decreasing the rotations in the AFL will lower congestion in the game.

The Director of High Performance at Arsenal Football Club comes from an AFL background, formerly working in the field for Port Adelaide, and he believes a lack of rest for players will naturally lower the numbers around stoppages.

“The high half-forwards and the wingers who can now get up and down the ground really quickly and effectively just wouldn’t be able to do it,” Burgess said on Sportsday.

“That would be, in my opinion, a fairly simple way of getting rid of some of the congestion.

“It probably won’t fix all of it, but in terms of numbers around the stoppages, players just will not have the fitness or ability to do that.

“There’s no doubt those half-forwards … are being asked to get up, in and around the stoppage then sprint back towards goal, and they just would not have the physical capacity to do that.”

Burgess doesn’t believe implementing zones is necessary, as lowering the interchange cap would have the same effect.

“I think if you dropped the rotations first, then players would just by their nature have to stay in their area,” he said.

“The ballistic nature would stay and I don’t think it would slow down matches either.

“Players would be forced to stay in their zones.

“That’s what I think would happen, but there would probably be a settling in period.”

I don’t agree with the above btw, just posting it as it does come back to the congestion solutions being floated. The afl did reduce rotations already and claimed it a success and now we have worse congestion than ever (apparently). Clubs adjust to the fewer rotations by training and recruiting differently the problem doesn’t go away and skills lower from more tired blokes running around.

No marks for kicks backwards won’t stop congestion either, sides that are kicking sideways/backwards are doing it because it’s already congested ahead. No backwards marks encourages congestion because ut increases the chance of pressuring a turnover.

I think the AFL should stop f**king with the game and just pay the free kicks as they are written, get rid of all this interpretation nonsense.

Instead of constantly tinkering with rules to get the game looking the way they want it to look, they should leave it alone and let natural innovation counter “ugly” tactics. Whenever they tinker, they make it worse.

I kinda liked the centre square rule (only)… until I actually thought about it. Imagine a ball spilling towards the corner of the square, players converging like seagulls to the lines, the ump unable to move from their corner viewing spot…

Actually thought they did, (did they used to??) … but just checked. and it’s the other centrals virtually on the other cnr’s, … so perhaps those 2 could take their place instead, … less players in there likely means only 1 Central is really needed (like we used to have) ?